Stud supporting tool

ABSTRACT

A TOOL USED TO PREVENT THE CHANNEL-SHAPED METAL STUBS USED IN DRYWALL CONSTRUCTURE FROM BENDING DURING CONNECTION OF THE DRYWALL TO THE METAL STUBS. THE TOOL INCLUDES A SUPPORTING MEMBER WHICH MAINTAINS THE WIDTH OF THE STUBS AND RESILIENTD MEANS CARRIED BY THE SUPPORTING MEMBER WHICH RETAINS THE SUPPORTING MEMBER IN A DESIRED POSITION WITHIN A STUD. A HANDLE IS CONNECTED TO THE SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR A SIMPLE MANIPULATION OF THE SUPPORTING MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO THE STUD.

1 Q DJ a H\ WW 4 6 VM Nov. 2, 1971 R. c. LAVERTY STUD SUPPORTING TOOLFiled March 30, 1970 NOV. 2, 1971 c LAVERTY 3,616,514

STUD SUPPORTING TOOL Filed March 30', 1970 2 Shets-Sheet 2 F192 4 FIG. 5

United States Patent Oihce 3,6l6,5l4 Patented Nov. 2,, 1971 3,616,514STUD SUPPORTING TOOL Richard C. Laverty, Schaumburg, IIL, assignor toMSL Industries, Inc. Filed Mar. 30, 1970, Ser. No. 23,614 Int. Cl. B25113/00; E041; 21/16 US. Cl. 29-283 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Atool used to prevent the channel-shaped metal studs used in drywallconstruction from bending during connection of the drywall to the metalstuds. The tool includes a supporting member which maintains the widthof the studs and resilient means carried by the supporting member whichretains the supporting member in a desired position within a stud. Ahandle is connected to the supporting member for simple manipulation ofthe supporting member with respect to the stud.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a novel tool used tomaintain the integrity of channel-shaped metal studs which are used indrywall construction, while the drywall is being fastened to the metalstuds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In building construction wherein drywall isutilized, the two most conventionally used systems for framing include(1) 2 x 4 wood studs to which the drywall is fastened by nails orscrews, and (2 generally U-shaped metal studs and furring channels towhich the drywall is fastened by means of screws. At present, 2. x 4 sare generally used in private home construction while metal studs andfurring channels are generally used in larger building construction.However, more use of metal studs and channels as framing materials inprivate home construction is expected in the future, because of the lowcost and lightweight features of metal studs, the possible rapiderection thereof, and the excellent fire resistance properties of metalstuds.

lIn drywall construction using metal studs, furring channels (sometimescalled stud tracks) are fastened to the floor and the framework isconstructed using the metal studs as vertical supports. The top andbottom portions of the studs are fastened to the furring channels bymeans of sheet metal screws and the drywall panels are fastened to thestuds and channels by means of wallboard screws.

One of the serious difiiculties in using metal stud framing is that asthe screw engages the metal stud, the portion of the stud in engagementwith the screw tends to bend away from the screw because of theflexibility of the sheet metal forming the stud. Bending of the studduring engagement with a screw is a serious problem, as it necessitatesthe removal of the screw from the drywall and the bending back to normalof the stud by the workman.

In order to maintain the integrity of the stud so that it will not bendwhile being engaged by a screw, the workman has had to reach around thedrywall and hold the stud with one hand while he used an electric toolto drive the screw through the wallboard into the stud. Since the endsof some studs are relatively sharp, holding the studs with the hand hasoccasioned many hand cuts and discomfort. Further, if the studs arespaced 2.4 inches from each other and the worker is attaching thewallboard to a centrally positioned stud, he would have to extend hishand 24 inches behind the wallboard in order to hold the stud in placewhile he was driving a screw through the wallboard and into the stud.Such a procedure is very diflicult if not impossible, and often aworkman has to ask a companion workman to hold the centrally positionedstud while the first workman fastens a sheet of wallboard to it.

The inventor of the present invention has recognized the need for amechanical tool that can be used to maintain the integrity of the studwhile a screw is entering it, without necessitating direct manualholding of the stud. It is an object of this invention to provide a toolthat is simple in construction, can be manufactured efficiently andeconomically, and can be easily and rapidly used by a workman tomaintain the width of a metal stud while it is being engaged by a screw.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in accordance withcertain embodiments of the invention, a single stud supporting tool thatis capable of use with different size metal studs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the principles of thepresent invention, there is provided a tool for use in erecting wallsformed of drywall and having a framework comprising elongated metalstuds. The type of studs with which the tool of the present invention isuseful have a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration with thesides of the U being substantially equal in size and parallel to eachother, and the distance between the sides being defined as the width ofthe stud. Each stud has a back portion which is the bottom of the U andis substantially perpendicular to the sides, and each of the sidescarries an inwardly turned flange that is substantially parallel to theback portion with the distance between the back portion and each flangebeing defined as the depth of the stud.

The tool of the present invention comprises a supporting member having afirst abutment means for abutting an inside surface of the stud, whichinside surface is substantially perpendicular to the back portion. Thesupporting member also has a second abutment means for abutting agenerally opposing surface of the stud and the supporting member hasmeans for contacting the inside surfaces of both of the flanges. Thetool carries resilient means which are engageable with the insidesurface of the back portion to bias the contacting means against theflanges thereby preventing movement of the supporting member toward theback portion unless a force is manually exerted on the supporting memberto counteract the bias.

A manually grippable handle is connected to the supporting member andextends in a direction that enables an operator to position thesupporting member within the stud and to manipulate the supportingmember by exerting a force on the supporting member to counteract thebias.

In one embodiment of the invention, the supporting member comprises ametal plate with the first abutment means comprising an end of the plateand the contacting means comprising an undersurface portion of the plateadjacent the end of the plate. The second abutment means comprises theopposite end of the plate and another contacting means comprises anundersurface portion of the plate adjacent the opposite end of theplate.

in one embodiment of the invention, third abutment means are positionedintermediate the first and second abutment means for enabling the toolto be used with another size stud having a smaller width. The thirdabutment means has means for abutting a surface of the smaller stud thatis perpendicular to the back portion thereof, and the third abutmentmeans has an undersurface which is adapted for contacting the insidesurface of one of the flanges of the smaller stud.

A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in thefollowing description and claims, and is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view,partially broken, of a typical drywall framework using metal studs;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view in perspective form of a portion of a typicalmetal stud and a portion of a typical furring channel, showing in dottedlines the interengagement between the stud and channel;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a stud supporting tool inaccordance with the present invention, utilized in connection with aconventional drywall framework system;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a stud supporting toolaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the stud supportingtool of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, exploded top view of a stud supporting toolaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention, withdifferent size studs shown in dashed line representation;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top view of the stud supporting tool of FIG. 6,being used with an intermediate size stud;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top view of the stud supporting tool of FIG. 6,being used with a large size stud;

FIG. 9 is an exploded side elevational view of the stud supporting toolof FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top view of a stud supporting tool according toa third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 12. is a fragmentary perspective view thereof;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a stud supporting toolaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIONThe drywall framing system illustrated in FIG. 1 includes horizontalfurring channels 22 which are fastened to the floor, horizontal furringchannels 24 which are fastened to an upper support and vertical metalstuds 26 which extend between channels 22 and 24. Channels 22 and 24 areconventional generally U-shaped sheet metal channels which are widelyused in building construction and studs 26 are generally U-shaped sheetmetal studs which are also widely used in drywall construction. Each ofstuds 26 comprises a back 28 and sides 30 and 32 extending parallel toeach other and perpendicular to back 28. Sides 30 and 32 are equal insize and side 30 carries an inwardly turned flange 34 that is parallelto back 28. Side 32 carries an inwardly turned flange 36 that is alsoparallel to back 28 and coplanar with flange 34. The perpendiculardistance between side 30 and side 32 is defined as the width of the studand the perpendicular distance between each of the flanges and back 28is defined as the depth of the stud.

Back 28 of stud 26 defines apertures 38 through which electrical linescan be passed and maintained between adjacent drywall panels. Inconstructing the framework, the channels 22 are anchored to the floor inthe conventional manner and sheet metal screws are extended through thesides of channels 22 into the sides of the metal studs 26. After thestuds are connected to the channels, the drywall panels 23 are fastenedto the sides of the studs with wallboard screws 25, in a manner shown inFIG. 1.

Floating studs 26' are utilized where it is not certain where the end ofthe drywall panel will be located. In order to prevent the end of thedrywall panel from being 4 located only a short distance past a Verticalstud, studs 26 are not connected to channels 22 and 24 until the drywallis in place.

At any time when a screw is being forced into the side of a metal stud,the side has a tendency to bend away from the screw, most particularlywhen the metal studs are being connected to the channels and whenfloating studs are used. In order to maintain the integrity of the studwhile a screw is being forced into it, a stud supporting tool isprovided according to the invention. Tool 40 includes a supportingmember 42 having a handle 44 connected thereto and extending outwardlytherefrom. The main body 48 of the handle is perpendicular to thesupporting member 42 and a grasping portion 46 of the handle extendsperpendicular to the main body 48. Main body 48 is preferablyapproximately 12 inches long so that grasping portion 46 can be graspedby the operator and the tool can be manipulated with respect to studswhich are as far as 24 inches from the end of a drywall panel.

Supporting member 42 is a generally rectilinear piece of sheet metalhaving flattened ends 50 and 52, and rounded corners 53, 54, and 56.Ends 50 and 52 are spaced a distance equal to the width of a stud withwhich the tool is to be used, and form abutment means for abutting theinside surfaces of sides 30 and 32 of stud 26 and maintaining the widthof the studs. The width of supporting member 42 is less than thedistance between flanges 34 and 36 so that the supporting member can beplaced inside the stud. The rounded corners are useful to enable theoperator to insert the supporting member 42 into the inside of the studwhile the supporting member is extending substantially vertically and torotate the supporting member, as shown most clearly in FIG. 5, untilends 50 and 52 of the supporting member 42 engage the inside surfaces ofsides 30 and 32. If the corners of the supporting member were notrounded, during rotation of the supporting member the sides of the studswould be spread apart a relatively great distance and undesirablebending of the studs might occur.

A resilient means in the form of a spring biased plunger, is carried bysupporting member 42. Resilient means 60 comprises a plunger having abody portion 62, a head 64, a retaining member 66 for limiting theoutward movement of the plunger, and a spring 68 biasing the plungeroutwardly toward the back portion 28 of the stud. Plunger 60 is movableaxially within an aperture defined by supporting member 42.

Resilient member 60 enables supporting member 42 to be placed inside astud, rotated and when tension on the handle 44 is released, the springbias urging the head 64 in the direction of the back portion 28 willurge supporting member 42 into engagement with the inner surfaces offlanges 34 and 36. In this manner, movement of the supporting member 42toward back portion 28 is prevented unless a force is manually exertedon the supporting member to counteract the spring bias.

Conventionally, metal studs used in drywall construction come in threedifferent sizes. Conventional studs are generally 1 /8 inches in depthand have widths of either 1% inches, 2 /2 inches or 3% inches. Referringto FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, it is seen that a tool is disclosed therein thatis useful for maintaining the width of studs of all three conventionalsizes. Tool 70 comprises a supporting member 72 formed of sheet metaland having struck therefrom an upstanding lug 74. The end surface 76 oflug 74 and the end 76 of supporting member 72 are spaced a distance thatis substantially equal to the width of the smallest size stud 26'. Theend 78 of support member 72 and the end 76 of support member 72 arespaced a distance that is substantially equal to the width of anintermediate size stud 26 and, when used in connection with anintermediate size stud, the operation with tool 70 is substantially thesame as the operation with tool 40.

In order to use tool 74) with the largest size stud 2'6",

a sleeve member 30 is provided. Sleeve member 80 is formed of two piecesof sheet metal and has an opening 82 which allows the sleeve member 80to be fitted onto end portion 84 of supporting member 72. When sleevemember 80 is fitted onto end portion 84, an increase in the distancebetween opposite ends of the supporting member is provided whereby thedistance between end 86 of the sleeve and end 76 of supporting member 72is substantially equal to the width of the largest metal stud 26".

In the embodiment of the tool illustrated in FIGS. 6-9, a handle 88,connected to the underside of supporting member '72, is hollowed toreceive a portion of plunger 90 which is constructed and operatessimilarly to the construction and operation of plunger 60. However, apin 92 is carried adjacent the bottom of the plunger 90 to ride within aslot 94 defined by the handle '88. In this manner, the plunger ismaintained in axial alignment with the handle and outward movement ofthe plunger is restrained as the plunger is acted upon by the bias ofspring 96.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1042, a single tool is provided for use withall three conventional sizes of metal studs, without requiring aseparate sleeve member as with the embodiment of FIGS. 6-9. The tool 100illustrated in FIGS. -12 has a handle and plunger system of the FIGS. 69embodiment. Of course, both the FIGS. 69 embodiment and the FIGS. 10-12embodiment could have a handle and plunger system that is identical tothe handle and plunger system of the FIGS. 35 embodiment.

The supporting member 102 of tool 100 is formed of a unitary piece ofsheet metal and has struck therefrom a first lug 104 and a second lug106. Lug 104 operates in a manner identical to the operation of lug 74of the FIGS. 6-9 embodiment, as the end surface 108 of lug 104 and theend surface 1110 of supporting member 102 are spaced a distance that issubstantially equal to the width of the smallest conventional metalstud. The end surface 112 of lug 106 and end surface 110 are spaced adistance that is substantially equal to the width of the intermediatesize conventional metal stud and the end surface 114 of supportingmember 102 and end surface I110 are spaced a distance that issubstantially equal to the width of the largest size conventional metalstud. As shown most clearly in FIG. 10, end portion 116 is bent atportion 118 to extend in a different plane from portion 120 ofsupporting member 102. It is seen from FIG. 10 in particular, that lug106 is substantially coplanar with portion 120 While lug 104 lies in aplane parallel to the plane of portion 1516 but on opposite sides withrespect to the plane of portions 106 and 120.

In the operation of the tool of the FIGS. 10-12 embodiment, when thetool is used with the smallest size conventional metal stud, ends 108and 110 abut the inner side walls of the metal stud. When used with anintermediate size conventional metal stud, ends 112 and 110 abut theinner ends of the stud and when used with the largest size conventionalmetal stud, ends I114 and 110 abut the inner walls of the largest sizestud.

It is seen that using the construction illustrated in FIGS. 912, thehandle 88 must be placed much closer to end 110 than to end 114, whenlugs 104 and 106 are struck out from the supporting member in the mannerindicated in FIGS. 9-12. In the FIGS. 13 and 14 embodiment, tool 124comprises a supporting member 126 having lugs 1128 and 129 struckupwardly therefrom and having extending portions 130 and 131 forming themid portion with lower extension 132 formed by bending the sheet metalpiece at 134.

The FIGS. 13-14 construction operates in a similar manner to theoperation of the FIGS. 10-12 construction, but as shown most clearly inFIG. 14, the construction of the FIGS. 13-14 embodiment enables thehandle 44 to be more centrally located than the handle 88 of the FIGS.9-12 construction. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the handle 44 and plunger60 carried by supporting member 126 is similar in construction andoperation to the handle and plunger illustrated in the FIGS. 3-5embodiment, but of course the handle and plunger arrangement could besimilar to the handle and plunger arrangement of the FIGS. 69embodiment.

It is seen that a tool has been provided that is simple in construction,and has the ability to maintain the integrity of a stud while a drywallpanel is being fastened to the stud with a screw. A worker can use thetool to reach studs which are a distance from the side of the panel,where otherwise he would need cooperation with another worker inhandling the stud. In accordance with certain embodiments of theinvention, a single tool is capable of use with different size metalstuds.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various substitutions andmodifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for use in erecting walls formed of drywall panels and havinga framework comprising elongated metal studs having a generally U-shapedcross-sectional configuration with the sides of the U beingsubstantially equal in size and parallel to each other and the distancebetween the sides being defined as the width of the stud, each studhaving a back portion which is the bottom of the U and is substantiallyperpendicular to the sides, and each of the sides carrying an inwardlyturned flange that is substantially parallel to the back portion withthe distance between the back portion and each flange being defined asthe depth of the stud, said tool comprising a supporting member having afirst abutment means for abutting an inside surface of said stud whichinside surface is substantially perpendicular to said back portion and asecond abutment means for abutting a generally opposing surface of saidstud, said supporting member having means for contacting the insidesurfaces of both of said flanges; resilient means engageable with theinside surface of said back portion to bias said contacting meansagainst said flanges thereby preventing movement of said supportingmember toward said back portion unless a force is manually exerted onsaid supporting member to counteract said bias; and a manually grippablehandle connected to said supporting member and extending in a directionthat enables an operator to position said supporting member within saidstud and to manipulate said supporting member by exerting a force onsaid supporting member to counteract said bias.

2. A tool as described in claim 1, wherein said supporting membercomprises a metal plate with said first abutment means comprising an endof said plate and said contacting means including an undersurfaceportion of said plate adjacent said end of said plate.

3. A tool as described in claim 2, wherein said second abutment meanscomprises the opposite end of said plate and said contacting meansfurther includes an undersurface portion of said plate adjacent saidopposite end of said plate.

4. A tool as described in claim 1, wherein said first abutment meanscomprises an upstanding lug the undersurface of which comprises saidmeans for contacting the inside surface of one of said flanges.

5. A tool as described in claim 1, said second abutment means beingadapted to abut the inside surface of the other side of said stud, saidfirst and second abutment means being spaced a distance substantiallyequal to the width of a stud with which the tool is to be used.

6. A tool as described in claim 2, wherein said end of said plate islinear at one portion thereof with the corners of said plate beingrounded to enable said plate to be turned within said stud withoutoverexpanding the width of the stud.

7. A tool as described in claim 3, including third abutment meanspositioned intermediate said first and second abutment means forenabling the tool to be used with another size stud having a smallerwidth, said third abutment means having means for abutting a surface ofsaid another size stud that is perpendicular to the back portionthereof, said third abutment means having an undersur face which isadapted for contacting the inside surface of one of said flanges of saidanother size stud.

8. A tool as described in claim 7, including fourth abutment meanspositioned intermediate said first and third abutment means for enablingthe tool to be used with a third size stud, said fourth abutment meanshaving means for abutting a surface of said third size stud that isperpendicular to the back portion thereof, said fourth abutment meanshaving an undersurface which is adapted for contacting the insidesurface of one of said flanges of said third size stud.

9. A tool as described in claim 1, wherein said handle and saidresilient means are coaxial.

10. A tool as described in claim 1, including a sleeve member forconnection to said supporting member to provide an increase in thedistance between opposite ends of said supporting member.

11. A tool for aiding in fastener-type assembly of drywall panels tostuds formed of generally channel-shaped cross-section with alongitudinal opening there-along and which have limited rigidity andhence normally tend to skew, or twist, in response to force applied bythe fastener during the operation of securing the drywall panel to thestud, said tool comprising, in combination, an elongated supportingmember of a length to transversely span the width of the longitudinalopening but of a width less than the width of the longitudinal opening;handle means for manipulating the supporting member to selectively enteror leave the longitudinal opening and to move to a position to span theopening and brace the stud; means for engaging opposed wall portions ofthe stud with the ends of the supporting member when in spanningposition; and resilient means for automatically retaining the supportingmember in said spanning position.

12. A tool for use in erecting walls formed of drywall panels and havinga framework comprising elongated metal studs having a generally U-shapedcross-sectional configuration with the sides of the U beingsubstantially equal in size and parallel to each other and the distancebetween the sides being defined as the width of the stud, each studhaving a back portion which is the bottom of the U and is substantiallyperpendicular to the sides, and each of the sides carrying an inwardlyturned flange that is substantially parallel to the back portion withthe distance between the back portion and each flange being defined asthe depth of the stud, said tool comprising a supporting member formedof a unitary sheet metal plate having a first end thereof for abuttingthe inside surface of one side of said stud, said end of said platebeing linear at one portion thereof with the corners of said plate beingrounded to enable said plate to be turned within said stud withoutovercxpanding the width of the stud, a second end of said plate forabutting the inside surface of the other side of said stud, said firstand second ends of said supporting member being spaced a distancesubstantiaily equal to the width of a stud with which the tool is to beused, the undcrsurface portions of said plate adjacent the ends thereofcomprising means for contacting the inside surfaces of both of saidflanges; a spring biased plunger carried by said plate and beingengageable with the inside surface of said back portion to bias saidcontacting means against said flanges thereby preventing movement ofsaid supporting member toward said back portion unless a force ismanually exerted on said supporting member to counteract said bias; anda manually grippable handle connected to said supporting member andextending in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect tosaid supporting member to enable an operator to position said supportingmember within said stud and to manipulate said supporting member byexerting a force on said supporting memher to counteract said bias, saidsheet metal plate having a lug struck therefrom in a direction oppositethe direction of said handle whereby an end surface of said lug isperpendicular to said back surface and is adapted for contact with aninside surface of a smaller size stud which inside surface isperpendicular to said back surface, the undersurface of said lugcomprising means for contacting the inside surface of the flange carriedby the smaller size stud, whereby said tool is adaptable for use withtwo different size studs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1913 Salucci 72482 10/1950Snyder et al. 8l3 X

